Ore-concentrator.



C. J. WITT. ORB CONGENTRATOR.

APPL-101111011 FILED .11.11.27, 1911.

MIJKIIA PLANOGIAFH G0, WASHINU'I'W. D. L

C. J. WITT. ORB `CONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27, 1911.

1 ,023,909, Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

1 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

coLUMBlA PMNOGRAPH C0.. WASHINaToN. D. c.

C. J. WITT.

ORE CONENTRATOR.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 27, 1911.

1,023,909. Patented A111123, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3. 58

ACWZJ coLuMnlA PLANDGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

C. J.' WITT.

ORE CONGBNTRATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED 1111.27, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

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Wwmv WWMJ UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

CARL J. WITT, OF NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA.

ORE-CONCENTRATOR.

To all fui/1.0m. it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL J. WITT, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, who have declared my intention of becoming a citizen .of the United States, residing at Needles,

in the county of San Bernardino and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore-Concentrators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in that class of machines commonly known as ore concentrators, and particularly to that type of said machines usually designated by the name of Vanner and wherein an endless concentrating apron or belt is employed in association with means for imparting a side movement to the belt and its carryingframe.

The invention consists of the parts and the constructions, arrangements and combina-- tions of parts which I will hereinafter describeand claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which similar reference characters indicate like parts in the several views: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line :v of Fig. 2, of an ore concentrator embodying the salient features of my invention. Fig. 2 is n atop plan view showing the concentrating belt removed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the driving connections for the belt and means for varying the longitudinal inclination of the machine. Fig. f1 is a cross-section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a cross-section o-n the line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of one of the head-roller bearings. Fig. 7 is a sectional detail of the belt-carrying roller and the supporting means at one end thereof. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a ball-bearing support for the reciprocating belt-carrying frame. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the ball-bearing of Fig. 8 taken at right angles to said Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail of the actuating eccentric and connec- Fig. 11 is a detail showing lower portion of a bearing with part of the channel-irons in section.

In the said drawing I have shown the several improvements which constitute my invention applied to that type of ore concentrator usually termed Vanner the construction and operation ofwhich are well known in the metallurgical art. The pres- ASpeccation of Letters Patent.

Application led January 27, 1911.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

serial No. 605,057.

ent machine comprises a shaking frame, 10, having rollers, 11, 12 at opposite ends over which pass the endless concentrating belt, 13; this belt is driven by a mechanism connecting with the head-end roller, 11, and which mechanism is herein shown as including a sprocket-wheel, 14, on the shaft ofthe head-roller, 11, from which sprocket-wheel a sprocket-chain 15, extends to a sprocketwheel, 16, fixed to a short shaft, 17, mounted in the upper end of a standard, 18, rising from a suitable bed or foundation.

The shaft, 17, has fixed to it a wormwheel, 19, which is driven by a worm, 20, on a horizontal shaft, 21; the other end of the shaft, 21, carries a cone-pulley, 22, from which a belt 23, runs to a cone-pulley, 24, on the main drive shaft, 25, and which shaft is parallel with the shaft, 21, and above the same and parellel with the sides of the main frame.

The main drive shaft is mounted in a vertical standard or support, 26, and it has fixed to it the usual band-pulley, 27. This arrangement of driving connections is more or less well known and constitutes no important feature of my present invention; in practice some well known belt-shifting and tightening means, shown generally at 28, will be employed for shifting the belt, 23, o-n the cone-pulleys and thereby regulating the drive or travel of the endless belt, 13, it being understood that this concentrating belt passes over the head and tail drums or rollers and over the intermediate guide rollers, 29, and under a guide roller, 30, at the head end of the machine, below the head roller, and which guide roller, 30, is

usually mounted in a water tank, (not sh own) whereby the belt is directed through the water of said tank and any particles of gold or other valuable mineral adhering to the surface of the belt will be washed olf and collected.

The first feature of improvement to which I call attention relates to the main frame which, as beforedescribed, is designed to be given a side shaking motion. By reference to the drawings it will be seen that this* frame is devoid of bracing between the upper and lower runs of the belt, which greatly facilitates the placing `and removal of the belt. That this operation may be effected in a simple manner, I construct the frame of two horizontal beams, 2, which may be of any suitable character but which are herein shown as channel-irons, one of said beams at each side below the level of the lower run of the belt, and I connect these beams or channel-irons which are the main beams of the frame, by means of two pipe-spreaders, 31, as shown in Fig. 2, the spreaders being, also, below the lower run of the concentrator belt and not between the upper and lower runs ot' the belt, as is common in these machines.

The channel-irons when used, are laid with their flat sides uppermost which arrangement seems to aord the greatest strength and is better adapted to resist the violent motion of the shaking devices, which I will hereinafter describe; the arrangement described also brings the frame nearer the center of gravity, and it is more convenient to secure the bearings for the guide roller, 30, for the belt and simplifies the castings which hold the said bearings.

'Ihe rollers, 30', are small two inch (more or less) rollers which extend across beneath the upper run of the belt and support the latter; each roller has its end journals mounted in a bushing, 33, at the outer end of which is a washer, 34, and a bracket, 35, which latter guides the bushing and is provided with an adjusting screw, 36, the end of which is designed to press against said washer to thereby take up clearance, or compensate :tor the wear of the journal.

The brackets, 35, are fixed to suitable longitudinal bars or angle-irons, 37, which are supported by the main beams or channel-irons, 2, so that they space the bars or angle-irons, 37, an appropriate distance above the main' frame, and said brackets, 35', have flanged bases by which they may be securely bolted to the upper flat sides of the channel-irons of the main frame, and which mainchannelirons have their channeled faces seated in recesses in suitable castings, 38, on the ends of the pipe spreaders.

The concentrating belt is thus supported, and its tension may be adjusted by means of the usual sliding boX, 39, and adjusting f screw, 40, for each of the journal ends of the roller at the lower or tail end of the machine.

In order that the frame with its carrying belt may be mounted for free reciprocal movement with as little friction as possible, I mount the frame upon any suitable type of ball-bearings and I preferably locate these bearings near the four corners of the frame. In other words there are two bearings upon each side of the frame and the rear bearings are so constructed that they adjust themselves transversely in response to variations in the longitudinal inclination of the frame.

The bearings are shown particularly in Figs. 5, 8, 9 and l1. The ball bearing structure for the front end of the machine consists of an upper and a lower portion, said lower portion comprising a base, 41, adapted to seat upon the longitudinal beams of the main frame and when this frame is composed of channel-irons, as I show for illustrative purposes, this base will seat in a suit-able recess formed in the top of the pedestal or standard, 42. The upper member, 43, of the front ball-bearing consists of a suitable casting having a top `iange, 44, to which is bolted or otherwise fastened a iiat steel plate or strap, 45, which in turn is suitably fastened to the main beams or channel-irons. front ball bearing at both sides of the machine are alike.

The adjacent faces of the members of the ball bearings, at both front and rear ends of the machine, are formed with curved recesses, 46, forming a suitable race-way for a ball or balls, 47; if desired this race-way may be formed of longitudinally extending case-hardened bars, 48, let into each of the curved-faces of the upper and lower members of the bearings, and between these bars the ball, or balls is loosely confined. 'Ihese bars give a fourfpoint contact, two above and two below, and thus better support the load. The upper casting or member of each front ball-bearing may also have an internal bushing, 49, as shown in Fig. 9 confined between suitable end guides, 50, the length of the upper member of the bearing being such that the necessary side movement of the machine is provided for during the op-` eration of the actuating eccentric.

The rear ball-bearings each consists of upper and lower portions, 51-52, with recessed meeting faces forming a suitable .race-way for a ball, or balls, 53, and the upper portion of said bearing has a projecting ange, 54, to which is bolted or otherwise secured a steel plate or strap, 55, which is in turn secured to the underside of the beams or channel-irons of the main frame; if a channel-iron frame is used the plates or straps may seat against the channel face of the same.

The lower half or member of the rear ball bearings has its base recessed to slidably engage a transverse guide, 5G, formed on the upper portion of a horizontal cross beam of any desired form; the parallel channel-irons, 57, shown represent this transverse beam, extending from the rear ballbearing on one side to the rear ball bearing on the opposite side, said transverse guide and the mounting of the lower member of the rear ball-bearing thereon, affording means for a side movement of this rearbearing when the longitudinal inclination of the main frame is changed, as I will presently describe.

The front ball bearings rest directly on the pedestals, 42, and the rear ball-bearings It will be understood that the.

are supported respectively between the transverse beam, 57, and the beams or channel-irons which constitute the main frame of the machine and are appropriately secured to each of said beams except that the lower part of the rear ball-bearing or the bearing at the tail-end of the machine, has the transverse movement to enable it to respond to variations in the inclination of the machine.

In ball-bearings for machines of this character it is necessary that the point of contact be the same distance from the axis in order to avoid slipping friction, as when changing the slope of the machine the entire frame will tend to revolve around the front balls; in the present case the bushing, 49, in the upper half of the bearings will not follow the turning movement of the machine and, therefore, the points of contact will remain practically unchanged, and as the lower half of each of the rear bearings may slide slightly when the inclination of the machine is changed, it is quite evident that the distance between the front and rear bearings will remain constant without regard to a change in the inclination of the machine.

The bearings are so constructed that the frame of the machine cannot leave the ball track when the operatingeccentric motion is over one eccentric only and is not applied in the center of gravity, and which motion tends to throw the frame out of its contact, but the weight of the frame and superposed parts resting on the balls counteracts any twisting force and therefore the bearings constructed as before described result in the reducing of the friction to a minimum, and keep the frame in its tracks.

Provision is made for the longitudinal inclination of the machine and the means which I have adopted for this purpose consist of the aforesaid transverse channel or other beams, 57, or like parts which extend below the lower ends of the frame, the outer ends of these beams each carrying a suitable nut, 59, through which pass the vertical screws, 60, for taking the vertical load, said screws having operating hand wheels, 61, at the upper ends; the lower ends of the screws are suitably stepped in projecting lugs, 62, on the vertical floorstands, 63, against the outer plain faces of which the inner faces of the nuts operate as shown in Fig. 4;. The nuts are therefore vertically guided on the floor-stands and side motion of the nuts is prevented by suitable setscrews, 64, as shown in said Fig. 4L.

At the' head end of the machine the ballbearings are directly mounted upon the pedestals or floor-stands, 42, and the balls of these front bearings form the fulcrum about which the frame may tilt in a longitudinal direction.

i breaks.

Side motion may be imparted to the frame in its carrying belt by any well known mechanism and for the present purposes I have shown the actuating means as including an eccentric having a two-part strap, 65, from which a connecting rod, 66, extends to a rod, 67, which extends between the two pipe spreaders near the opposite end of the machine. The eccentric strap is divided in the well known manner, but I employ a metal filling, 68, for the joint at one side; the joint at the other side is adjustable by means of a set-screw, 69, as shown in Fig. l0, and the arrangement is such that the eccentric may be taken up while the machine is in motion. The driving means before described are so arranged that the frame can be tilted without effecting the drive, this be- 'ing occasioned by arranging the eccentric rod so that it can turn slightly and placing the worm wheel shaft substantially in line with the front rollers.

The two conepulleys vary the speed of the belt and are `preferred to a single rollerrthis is more favorable for a small belt which often In my machine I shift the belt only, by some suitable means, instead of shifting the lower pulley with the belt as is common in means of this type.

The supporting frame may be furtherY strengthened by means of diagonal rods, 70, extending between the spreaders and selcured by nuts, as shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letvters Patent is:

l. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame braced at its central portion and having unobstructed openings bet-Ween the sides at the ends, rollers mounted in the said ends of the frame, a wiping roller supported below the frame, and an endless traveling belt passing around the end rollers and said wiping roller having its going and return portion bot-h :disposed above the frame, and having said return portion operating through the said spaces at the ends of the frame.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame braced Lat its central portion and having unobstructed openings between the sides at the ends, rollers mounted in the said ends of the frame, a wiping roller supported below the frame, and an endless traveling belt passing Earo-und the end rollers and said wiping roller having its going and return portion Vboth disposed above the frame, and having isa-id return portion operating through the said spaces at the ends of the frame, and means for imparting a side shake to the frame acting upon the central braced portion of said frame.

3. In combination, a frame tiltable in one Adirection and reciprocable at rightangles to the plane of its tilting movement, said frame being composed of parallel side members with bracing at the central portion only whereby an unobstructed space is left at each end of the frame, rollers at the ends of the frame within said spaces, an endless traveling belt operating over said rollers and having both ends of its return portion opera-ting through said spaces, means acting upon the central braced portion of the frame for imparting a side shake to said frame and its supported belt, said belt having the central parts of its going and return portions both disposed above the frame and the bracing thereof, whereby the belt may be placed and renewed without detaching the frame members.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame tiltable in one direction and reciprocable at right angles to the plane of its tilting movement, said frame being braced at its central portion and having return rollers at the ends of the braced portion, the part of the frame between the braced portion and outer ends being open and unobstructed to permit the ends of the belt to operate through the spaces thus formed, and means acting upon the central braced portion of the frame for imparting reciprocal movement to said frame.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame tiltable in one direction and reciprocable at right angles to the plane of its tilting movement, an endless traveling belt supported on the frame having its going and return portions both disposed above the horizontal plane of the frame, to facilitate the placing and renewing of the belt, bearings near opposite portions of and below the frame, said frame beingy tiltable on the bearing near one end as a fulcrum, and means for reciprocating the frame on said bearing in the direction of the axis of the fulcrum.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame tiltable in one direction and reciprocable at right angles to the plane of its tilting movement, an endless traveling belt supported on the frame having its going and return portions both disposed above the horizontal plane of the frame, to facilitate the placing and renewing of the belt, bearings near opposite portions of and below the frame, said frame being tiltable on the bearing, near one end as a fulcrum, and means for reciprocating the frame on said bearing in the direction of the axis of the fulcrum, said means comprising a driving shaft, a fixed vert-ical standard in which the shaft is mounted, a single eccentric mounted on said shaft adjacent the bearings upon which the frame fulcrums, and means co-nnecting the eccentric to the frame.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame tiltable in one direction and reciprocable at right angles to the plane of its tilting movement, an endless traveling belt supported on the frame having its going and return portions both disposed above the horizontal plane of the frame, to facilitate the placing and renewing of the belt, bearings near opposite portions of and below the frame, said frame being tiltable on the bearings near one end as a fulcrum, and means for reciprocating the frame on said bearing in the direction of the axis of the fulcrum, and fixed vertical pedestals below the frame and upon the upper portions of which the bearings are movably mounted, said frame having its under portion supported on the bearings..

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame tiltable in one direction and reciprocable at right angles to the plane of its tilting movement, an endless traveling belt supported on the frame having its going and return portions both disposed above the horizontal plane of the frame, to facilitate the placing and renewing of the belt, bearings near opposite portions of and below the frame, said frame being tiltable on the bearings near one end as a fulcrum, and means for reciprocating the frame on said bearing in the direction of the axis of the fulcrum, fixed vertical pedestals below the frame and on the upper portions of which the bearings are movably mounted, the bearings at the tail end of the frame having, also, a movementin a plane at right angles to their reciprocal movement and substantially parallel with the length of the frame.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame tiltable in one direction and reciprocable at right angles to the plane of its tilting movement, an endless traveling belt supported on the frame having its going and return portions bot-h disposed above the horizontal plane of the frame, to facilitate the placing and renewing of the belt, bearings near opposite portions of and below the frame, said frame being tiltable on the bearings near one end as a fulcrum, and means for reciprocating the frame on said bearing in the direction of the axis of the fulcrum, iixed vertical pedestals below the frame substantially at the four corners therefor, upon which pedestals the bearings are mounted, said bearings being interposed between the top of the pedestals and the under side of the frame.

l0. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame tiltable in one direction and reciprocable at right angles to the plane of its tilting movement, an endless traveling belt supported on the frame having its going and return portions both disposed above the horizontal plane of the frame, to facilitate the placing and renewing of the belt, bearings near opposite portions of and below the frame, said frame being tiltable on the bearings near one end as a fulcrum, and means for reciprocating the frame on said bearing in the direction of the axis of the fulcrum, fixed Vertical pedestals below the frame substantially at the four corners thereof, upon which pedestals the bearings are mounted, said bearings being interposed between the top of the pedestals and the under side of the frame, and means for vertically adjusting the tail-end bearings to vary the inclination of the frame.

11. The combination with a body reciprocal in one direction and adjustable in inclination in another direction, means for imparting a reciprocable movement to said body, and means for varying the inclination of said body, of fixed vertical pedestals,

bearings mounted therein and upon which the underside of the frame rests, said pedestals being at the sides of the frame near the head and tail ends thereof, one set of bearings forming a fulcrum about which the longitudinal inclination of the frame may be Varied, said frame being reciprocable in the direction of the aXis of said fulcrum, and the other set of bearings being adapted to be automatically shifted at right angles to the reciprocable movement of the body in response to variations in the inclination of said body.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CARL J. WITT.

lVitn'esses:

FRANK L. A. GRAHAM, P. H. SHELTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

